Photoinduced Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols Using 4-Benzoylpyridine as an Oxidant.

Photoinduced oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones was achieved by utilizing an equimolar amount of 4-benzoylpyridine as an oxidant. This transformation proceeds at ambient temperature and exhibits high compatibility with polar functionalities including benzoyl, silyl, and methoxymethyl alcohol protecting groups as well as tosyloxy, bromo, sulfonyl, carbamate, ester, and carboxylic acid units. The present oxidation is solely promoted by the action of organic molecules without the aid of metallic reagents.